Vapor-bath apparatus.



' a, 1906. 903,289. Patented Nov. 10,1908.

e72 far TINTTED STATES PATEN T @FFTQE.

KASSON HIOKOX, OF EXOELSIOR SPRINGS, MISSOURI.

VAPOR-BATH APPARATUS.

Application filed April 3,

paratus and more especially to apparatus for.

subjecting the face to the action of vapor or steam for the purpose ofsoftening, purifying and cleansing the skin, and my object is to produceapparatus of this character, by which medicated steam or vapor can beapplied to the parts of the body affected for the purposes described,and which performs its function efficiently and reliably and is ofsimple and inexpensive construction.

To this end the invention consists in certain novel and peculiarfeatures ofconstruction and organization as hereinafter described andclaimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to behad to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1, is a side elevationof apparatus embodying my invention, one element of the apparatus beingshown partly in section, and certain parts broken away. Fig. 2, is a toplan view of the same. Fig. 3, is a detail view showing a cup attachmentfor application of the steam or vapor to the different parts of thebody.

In the said drawing, 1 indicates a burner of any suitable or preferredtype, and 2 standards projecting upward therefrom and forming a supportfor the steam generator 3,

having an upwardly projecting steam exit pipe 4. 5 is a flexible tubeconnecting pipe 4 with the upper end of a pipe 6, depending into a jar7, adapted to contain a medicated liquid or the medicine may be in theform of a powder or crystals, said pipe 6 being rigidly carried by aremovable cap 8 for said jar. The cap is also provided with a short exitpipe 9, through which the steam or medicated vapor esca es from the jar.

10 indicates a exible tube connecting exit pipe 9, with a tube 11,projecting into a steam tank or receptacle 12, which may be of anysuitable or preferred form, the drawing showing the same of square formwith its upper front and rear edges dished and provided with flanges 13and 14 respectively, the opposite ends of said flanges being connectedby side flanges 15. These flanges Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Serial No. 309,579.

I afford a wider support or hearing for the patients face in case hedesires to support his head while taking the treatment hereinafterreferred to.

16 indicates an arch overlying one end of tube 11, to prevent the steamrising directly upward therefrom and it also forms a su port for theangle tube 17, having one en proj ecting through a wall of the tank, andthe tube 18, carrying a mouth-piece 19.

In practice the heat from the burner generates steam in the generatorS,the steam passing therefrom through tube 5 and pipe 6, and into the jar7, which may contain a small quantity of medicated liquid in order toimpregnate the steam, the particular impregnating substance or compoundemployed dethe disease to be treated. From the jar this medicated steamor vapor passes through tubes 9, 10, and 11 into tank or receptacle 12,'rising in the latter so as to come in contact with the face or otherpart of the body of the patient, the patient either sitting with hisface above the tank with his head and the tank enveloped in a towel orother wrapping, with the mouth-piece 19 in his mouth in order that hemay breathe while thus enveloped, without danger of inhaling the hotsteam or "vapor. If desired a towel can be stretched across the upperend of the tank and the face be pressed against the same in order toobtain the effect of an application of a hot towel to the face.

When it is desired to treat other parts of the body, I preferably detachtube 10 from tube 11, and secure in said tube 10 aT-coupling 20,equipped with a pair of flexible tubes 21 ada ted to fit over and besecured to the depen ing stem 22 screwed into and communicating with thecup 23, which cup is preferably beaded at its open end as at 24, toreceive and hold reliably a soft rubber flange or ring 25. By thisarrangement an air-tight joint can be made with any part of the body,the cups beng preferably of suflicient diameter to completely incase theear.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have producedapparatus which can be used for, not only the pur oses specificallymentioned, but can also e used in treating various diseases. It isobvious that changes in the detail construction may be made withoutdeparting from the principle of construction involved, and I thereforedo not wish to be restricted to the form, proportion,

pending on the character of the treatment or 7 other projecting upwardto receive a flexible detail construction and arrangement of the partsshown and described. 7

I am aware that it has heretofore been roposed to connect a bath-boxwith'vesse sin which fumes are formed but such vessels were connectedwith the bath-box by a complicated system of piping in which were fittedvalves to control the flow of the fumes and direct the course of thesame. This apparatus was costly and intricate in construction anduncertain in its results owing to the liability of error in theadjustment of the numerous valves. 7

In my device, the piping is free of valves so that there can be no errorin its adjustment. The steam in my device is forced to pass into the jarcontaining the medicine before passing into the bath-box or vaporreceptacle so that the desired fumes will necessarily enter the saidreceptacle and the steam, of course, cannot pass directly to the saidreceptacle at its maximum temperature and burn the skin.

Having thus described the invention What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

The herein described and shown vapor bath apparatus consisting of asteam generator having a single outlet, a medicine jar having a'singleoutlet, a vapor receptacle having its upper end shaped to receive thepatients face and support his head, a valveless pipe leading from theoutlet of the steam'generator'directly into the medicine jar, avalveless pipe leading from the outlet of the medicine jar into thevapor receptacle; an .archresting on the bottom of said receptacle andoverlying the end of said pipe, and an air tube leading through the sideof the vapor receptacle and projecting upward within the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

KASSON HICKOX.

